Walden Pond
the whistle of a train
crosses the years
—JACQUIE PEARCE
"A railroad ran along Walden Pond about one-third of a mile from Thoreau's cabin, and he could hear the rattle of the trains. But he thought a trip by rail was a bad bargain"
RANDY ALFRED
Aug. 9, 1854: Thoreau Warns, 'The Railroad Rides on Us'
WIRED DOT COM
And now the British new rail system will kill off many unique eco-systems as effectively as the Australian fires.
***
each window its own night train
Alan Summers
monoku
Honourable mention, The British Haiku Society Awards 2018/19 (Haiku Section) judge: Scott Mason
Thanks for your comments on this and earlier haiku, Alan (I forgot that people could leave comments online, so I am a little slow to read them). I like how your own haiku added at the end make the comments feel haibun-like. My recent experience of standing beside Walden Pond and hearing the train whistle felt full of irony and contrasts–especially with the large pay parking lot, busy highway and busy commuter train-line so close. What would Walden think if he could see it now?
This reminds me of the time when I worked for Trump and I came home from my hateful night-shift casino job on the train. I could see what the engineer could see as I looked down the aisle to the front car’s window. The head lights showed the tracks surrounded by the dark. Then out of the dark for an instant, an arm appeared with the hand giving the finger, and suddenly the train screeched to a halt. I could hear the train’s bell chiming. As the conductor passed, I asked why we stopped. He said; “Someone committed suicide and we’ll be here for a while; he’s smeared on the side of the car and their cleaning up now. What a mess. “Two hours later the train continued on to my stop. when I was going up the aisle, I remembered watching as a kid the Twilight Zone episode forty years ago and just blurted out; “All off for Willoughby, All off for Willoughby.“
in the night sky an owl’s call
(Google Twilight Zone: "A Stop at Willoughby" and watch it" ,
January 6th, 2020 at 8:43 am
Very nice, Jacquie! I love the sense of history you've evoked.
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:52 pm
Thanks, Dan!
January 6th, 2020 at 8:50 am
Nice.
January 6th, 2020 at 12:12 pm
Intriguingly ironic!
Great haiku too!
Walden Pond
the whistle of a train
crosses the years
—JACQUIE PEARCE
"A railroad ran along Walden Pond about one-third of a mile from Thoreau's cabin, and he could hear the rattle of the trains. But he thought a trip by rail was a bad bargain"
RANDY ALFRED
Aug. 9, 1854: Thoreau Warns, 'The Railroad Rides on Us'
WIRED DOT COM
And now the British new rail system will kill off many unique eco-systems as effectively as the Australian fires.
***
each window its own night train
Alan Summers
monoku
Honourable mention, The British Haiku Society Awards 2018/19 (Haiku Section) judge: Scott Mason
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for your comments on this and earlier haiku, Alan (I forgot that people could leave comments online, so I am a little slow to read them). I like how your own haiku added at the end make the comments feel haibun-like. My recent experience of standing beside Walden Pond and hearing the train whistle felt full of irony and contrasts–especially with the large pay parking lot, busy highway and busy commuter train-line so close. What would Walden think if he could see it now?
February 4th, 2020 at 4:53 am
Thanks!
January 6th, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Very evocative. Almost a scifiku with the sound of the train time-traveling.
January 9th, 2020 at 11:29 am
This reminds me of the time when I worked for Trump and I came home from my hateful night-shift casino job on the train. I could see what the engineer could see as I looked down the aisle to the front car’s window. The head lights showed the tracks surrounded by the dark. Then out of the dark for an instant, an arm appeared with the hand giving the finger, and suddenly the train screeched to a halt. I could hear the train’s bell chiming. As the conductor passed, I asked why we stopped. He said; “Someone committed suicide and we’ll be here for a while; he’s smeared on the side of the car and their cleaning up now. What a mess. “Two hours later the train continued on to my stop. when I was going up the aisle, I remembered watching as a kid the Twilight Zone episode forty years ago and just blurted out; “All off for Willoughby, All off for Willoughby.“
in the night sky an owl’s call
(Google Twilight Zone: "A Stop at Willoughby" and watch it" ,
January 7th, 2020 at 1:10 am
Beautiful!
January 7th, 2020 at 1:39 pm
baled hay
sunny afternoon
nature's gold
February 3rd, 2020 at 10:41 pm
I appreciate the comments, everyone!